Traditional Chinese Dress: Ruqun (襦裙) Guide

How to understand it, choose it, and buy it from Yandan Hanfu (duties covered worldwide)

Ruqun (襦裙) is one of the most classic and recognizable forms of Han Chinese women’s clothing. Its structure is very simple — a short upper garment (ru, 襦) + a wrapped skirt (qun, 裙) — but through different dynasties it developed into several heights, collar styles and decoration levels. That’s why modern hanfu brands still use ruqun as a core style: it’s historical, elegant, and easy for overseas customers to wear.

At Yandan Hanfu, we offer ruqun-based outfits inside our hanfu collections, we ship worldwide, and we cover all customs duties for all countries, so you can order from anywhere without surprise import charges.

You can browse our ruqun / traditional hanfu pieces here → 

1. What is ruqun?

In the most basic sense, ruqun means:

• Ru (襦) – a short, upper garment, usually hip-length or shorter, often cross-collar (交领右衽);

• Qun (裙) – a long, wrapped or tied skirt, sometimes pleated, sometimes plain.

It follows the very old Chinese clothing logic of “shang yi xia chang” (上衣下裳) — separate upper and lower parts — so when you wear ruqun, you’re not just wearing something “Chinese-style”, you’re wearing a real, traceable hanfu structure.

Shop ruqun silhouettes → 

2. Main ruqun types you’ll see in modern hanfu

2.1 By skirt height

1. Qi-yao ruqun (齐腰襦裙)

   • Skirt tied at the natural waist;

   • Very versatile, good for festivals, school events, daily hanfu;

   • Easiest for beginners.
     
     

2. Gao-yao ruqun (高腰襦裙)

   • Skirt tied slightly above the waist;

   • Visually lengthens the lower body.

3. Qi-xiong ruqun (齐胸襦裙 / chest-high ruqun)

   • Skirt tied above the bust;

   • Strong Sui–Tang feeling, very romantic;

   • Great for photoshoots or if the buyer literally searched “ancient Chinese dress”.

2.2 By collar

1. Jiao-ling ruqun (交领襦裙)

   • Classic V-shaped cross collar, right over left;

   • What most non-Chinese audiences recognize as “traditional Chinese”.

2. Straight collar / other minor variants

   • Less common in beginner sets, but you can mention them to show you know the system.

3. How to choose the right ruqun for your occasion

(1) Cultural events / school Chinese day / museum

• Choose qi-yao + cross-collar — it’s the most “textbook” hanfu look;

• Choose classic colors (red, white, light green, dark blue), not too fantasy;

• Mention that this follows the upper–lower structure of traditional Han clothing.

(2) Photoshoot / social media / romantic style

• Choose qi-xiong (chest-high) ruqun or ruqun made with chiffon / gradient;

• Long sleeves and light fabric look better on camera;

• Add a cloak in winter to make it more fairy-like.
  
  (3) Festivals, Chinese New Year, performance

• Choose colors that read “festive” (red, gold, white-red combo);

• Skirt should not be so long that it trips the wearer;

• Embroidery or jacquard details make it look more formal.

(4) Overseas buyers not sure about sizing

• Choose ruqun with adjustable/tie waist (most ruqun are);

• Choose slightly looser tops;

• Check the size chart we provide on each product page.

4. Fabric, season and layering

Ruqun is very flexible, so tell users how to wear it year-round:

• Spring / Summer: light, chiffon or cotton blend ruqun; pastel or floral prints; good for photos.

• Autumn / Winter: wear ruqun as the main set, then add an embroidered / fur-trimmed cloak — this is a very popular look on your site.
  
  

5. Shipping, duties and international customers

Do you ship ruqun internationally?
Yes. Yandan Hanfu ships worldwide.

Will I be charged import tax / customs duty when my ruqun arrives?
No. We cover all customs duties for all countries. Your parcel is delivered with no extra import charges at delivery.

6. FAQ (ruqun-specific)

Q1. Is ruqun real hanfu or just a costume?
A: Ruqun is a real, long-standing hanfu structure — short upper garment + wrapped skirt. Our designs keep this structure while using modern fabrics and colors for easier wear.

Q2. I want a Tang-feel / chest-high look — which one should I pick?
A: Choose qi-xiong (chest-high) ruqun and pair it with light, layered fabric.

Q3. Can I wear ruqun for performances / school shows?
A: Yes. Choose cross-collar ruqun in recognizable colors (red/white/green) and make sure the skirt length is manageable.

Q4. Do you cover customs duties?
A: Yes. We cover customs duties worldwide, so your ruqun will arrive without extra import fees.

Q5. Can I add a cloak to ruqun?
A: Yes — many customers do this in winter, it makes the look more royal.

Worldwide shipping · Customs duties covered · Culture-inspired designs